best wide receivers not in the hall of fame

They were drafted just one year apart, both were great punt returners early in their careers, both had most of their best seasons in the '90s, both had career numbers that looked exceptional before the explosion of receiving stats in the last decade or so. 1,101 receptions, 13,899 yards, 130 TD. Brian Branch, S, Alabama. But the truth, I think, is that he falls a bit short, maybe as much by bad luck as anything. NFL Career: Clayton played from 1983 to 1993. Today's wide receivers play 16-game schedules. It's about his peak. During his NFL career, Rison caught touchdown passes from Jack Trudeau (4), Chris Miller (25), Scott Campbell (2), Billy Joe Tolliver (6), Wade Wilson (3), Bobby Hebert (11), Jeff George (9), Vinny Testaverde (1), Eric Zeier (2), Mark Brunell (2), Brett Favre (1), Elvis Grbac (7), and Rich Gannon (11). Pro Football Hall of Fame snubs: The 10 biggest in NHL history - Sportsnaut Who scored more TDs in the '90s, Michael Irvin or Herman Moore? You remember the old highlight show line, "Cris Carter, all he does is catch touchdowns." These NFL wide receivers, Hopkins, like Edelman, made a little news on Monday when the folks at the MIT Sloan Analytics Conference named Hopkins acquisition by the Arizona Cardinals as the, Smith, like Andre Johnson, becomes Hall of Fame eligible next season. The top 18 players in all-time sacks are either in the Hall of Fame or will be soon except for O'Neal, who ranks No. But for a few seasons, Morgan was one of the most dynamic players in the NFL. They play in high-efficiency pass-oriented offenses, as opposed to the exciting but reckless bomb-it-down-the-field passing games of the past, when running was a way of life and throwing a sneaky change of pace or a mark of desperation. 25. Rank'Em: Cowboys Now Have 20 Hall of Famers - Dallas Cowboys Is it stats some times wonder maybe but not really. He was also one of the best punt returners of his generation, and still holds the rookie record for all-purpose yards. He has been stuck in Hall of Fame semifinalist purgatory for five years, unable to advance to the finalist stage. Folks appear to have forgotten just how great and groundbreaking those early Jaguars teams were. The late '80s and early '90s, meanwhile, have no one but Jerry Rice in the Hall of Fame. We all believe that Calvin Johnson is one of the greatest of all time. Can a team with a dozen HOFers really end up with just two championships? HOF absurd. Brown also holds the rookie record for all-purpose yards (2,317), a record he took from Gale Sayers and has now owned for more than two decades. The two who stand out on the list, obviously, are Powell and Carmichael. Obviously, there's more to it than that. He literally changed the game as the first of the series of liberalized passing rules which the 1970s would see was called the Isaac Curtis rule. Brown made nine Pro Bowls and was a second-team selection to the 1990s NFL All-Decade team. Top 20 Receivers | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site He was 31 when he made his first Pro Bowl as a receiver, a 10-year veteran. The two who stand out on the list, obviously, are Powell and Carmichael. 489 receptions, 7,822 yards, 48 TD. One is that his production was largely limited to seven seasons. 25 Best Undrafted NFL Players of All Time - AthlonSports.com Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne: Each was a HOF Finalist last year, so each is on the doorstep of Canton. But hes no Hall of Famer. The Jets' roster doesn't look wildly different in most spots compared to last season well, unless you count the Hall of Fame quarterback they just added last week. This isn't a guy who caught 60 passes for 800 yards every year for 15 years. Branch's stat line in the '80s dwarfs Pearson's, by over 1,000 yards 50% more yardage. He made four Pro Bowls and he was All-Pro in 1975. Between 1988-94, you've got Andre Rison ('89) Herman Moore ('91), Keenan McCardell ('91), and Smith. Top 25 Best NFL Wide Receivers of All Time - bolavip.com Although Rice played in only five seasons during the decade of the 1980s, he was regarded by many to be on the path to be called the greatest receiver of all-time. Going by career numbers, Branch has a far stronger case: 501 receptions, 8,685 yards, 67 TD. This is a Game 7 I will forever remember as the Steph Curry game." When you think about someone who was maybe the 2nd-best receiver of the decade, certainly no lower than 4th it's a different perception than right now. He should be in. Jerry Rice in the '90s and Jackson in the '70s are the only Modern Era players to lead any decade in every major receiving category. Duper played from 1982 to 1992. It's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction week around the NFL world. Hall of Fame QB's son will get NFL chance after signing rookie free The positions importance and its statistical benchmarks have evolved significantly over time, particularly as the passing game grew to take over the modern sport since the 1990s, but the Halls selection committee has struggled to apply an evolving standard to candidates resumes. Jimmy Smith Made five Pro Bowls, gained 1,000 yards in every full season as a starter, caught 110 passes twice. Stallworth: 537 rec, 8,723 yds, 63 TD He remained a good player for years afterwards, but there are lots of good receivers. Moore had three seasons of 100 receptions, trailing only Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison, and Wes Welker (4 each). Gray: 351 rec, 6,644 yds, 45 TD Based in Charlotte, NC, we specialize in intelligent sports fan commentary and colorful interpretation. In his 17-year career, Brown made the Associated Press All-Pro team just once, as a second-team selection in 1997. Those are 16-game seasons, after the Mel Blount Rule and the changes that opened up pass blocking. But give the Sloan crew credit: they arent hailing Jon Gruden as a mathematical sorcerer because he traded Khalil Mack for draft picks anymore! Hall will be the 48th player and 52nd individual inducted into the Chiefs . I know, they won in '83, but that's a different team: Marcus Allen, Howie Long, Mike Haynes the '70s Raiders already have an awful lot of Hall of Famers for a team that only won its own conference twice. But thats a topic for another column. Ron Wolf, the GM for the Packers in the '90s, told Sports Illustrated's Paul Zimmerman, "When [the Vikings] got in close, it was Carter you had to worry about. KEYSHAWN JOHNSON entered the Top 20 during Week 17. 4. Here's my list of 25, ranked by the number of times they were among the top 10 in their league in receiving yards: Seven: Powell That said, Boldin played second fiddle to Larry Fitzgerald in his signature seasons and was perceived as more of a gritty veteran than a playmaker in his final seasons. He has a Super Bowl ring, played in a second Super Bowl, has already caught 61 postseason passes, and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame all-2010s team. 8/16/2011. Just play along. 501 receptions, 8,685 yards, 67 TD. In 2007, though, they elected Irvin to Canton, and in each of the next five seasons, they've passed on Carter. When they needed the key first down, who did they go to? Those of us who care about the Hall of Fame sometimes write derisively about "compilers" that is, a compiler of stats, who has impressive career numbers without ever really being a great player. Stats again: The interesting thing about this list is that many of these players need to be evaluated with serious consideration of their postseason accomplishments. From recent years, when the passing game has reached levels of unprecedented importance, so far there's just Rice and Irvin. Julio Jones: Hes a Hall of Fame lock. Rison played for seven NFL teams. The off-field stuff isn't supposed to factor into HOF voting, but Rison's uneven career and locker room impact are fair game. So why isnt he in? In most eras, there are 2-4 wide receivers honored with Hall of Fame recognition. During that period, he ranked second (behind Marvin Harrison) in total catches, first in receiving yards and seventh in touchdown receptions. The Hall of Fame also generally wasnt kind to receivers who played during the transition to the 16-game season era, unless they played for the Steelers. He also would have led the NFL in receptions in 1990. February 14, 2012 by Brad Oremland Print Story. 1992-2005, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars 1960-69: Lance Alworth, Don Maynard In fact, McCardell could make his own HoPDGP case. Branch is almost obscenely overqualified for the Hall of Fame. Sharpe was one of the best players in the NFL from 1992 to 1994. Moore: 670 rec, 9,174 yds, 62 TD. Irvin had seven 1,000-yard seasons, two 1,500-yard seasons, five straight over 1,200. Various/Getty Images. If I look down the line at some of the best wide receivers to play in Green Bay, guys like . A first-team All-Pro in 1990 and a five-time Pro Bowler, Rison had five 1,000-yard seasons and in 1993 tied Jerry Rice for the most receiving TDs in the NFL (15). Weve written before that the Pro Football Hall of Fame has a receiver problem. Super Bowl rings well sure the does matter. 1980-89: James Lofton, Art Monk That's a much different rsum, particularly on the touchdowns. By and large, Smith who retired as the seventh-most-prolific pass-catcher ever was at the vanguard of the productive receivers who would follow, not the other way around. In his 11-year career, Pearson led the Cowboys in receiving TDs only twice (1975-76). Four time pro bowler and 3 time 2nd team all-pro. . Draymond Green, Sports Central / Original Sports Fan Commentary Since 1998, Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1980s, Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1970s, Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1960s, Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s, Risers, Fallers of the 2022-23 NFL Season. When you think about his numbers in the context of 14-game seasons and the defense-dominated '70s, they're nothing short of remarkable. He has to be on the list. HOF Qualifications: FAIR. Pearson made three Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams, and from 1974-79, he was consistently among the top receivers in the NFL. But let's review each player's rsum, in alphabetical order. Jones is also one of just 20 wide receivers with seven Pro Bowl selections and 11 wideouts with two First-Team All-Pro selections. Ranking Tom Brady's 41 best receivers during his 18-year, 9-Super Bowl He made five Pro Bowls and led the NFL in a major receiving category four times more than Biletnikoff, Joiner, Irvin, Lavelli, Lofton, Monk, Stallworth, and Swann combined. 743 receptions, 10,205 yards, 84 TD. In this article, I count down the Rams' top five wide receivers of all time. He has a well-deserved tough-guy personality, a high television profile (all voters try to tune that sort of thing out, and a few succeed), and several signature plays, including the. But few are outright forgotten in the way that former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith has been since his retirement in 2006. Thereafter, he was out-gained every year by either Jake Reed or Moss. 13. 6. Two: Carmichael. [Being sober] is not a victory because its a lifelong battle, Smith told Frenette. Drew Pearson (part of the 2021 class) was a great player, and I grew up worshipping Harold Carmichael (2020 Centennial class), but Branch is more qualified than either of them. According to Pro-Football-Reference.coms Approximate Value (AV) metric, Smith had 74 AV in his best run of five consecutive seasons (from 1997 through 2001), which is tied with Lance Alworth, Antonio Brown and Julio Jones for fifth-best since 1960. Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith. The line has to be drawn somewhere. They force some of us to denigrate a player like Edelmans legacy because other folks are either just praising a local hero or advancing a bad-faith or ill-informed talking point. Pearson: 489 rec, 7,822 yds, 48 TD Moore had four 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the '90s. Jacksonville Jaguars (30) The first overall pick in the 1984 draft, Fryar quickly made his mark on special teams he was a Pro Bowl returner, with 3 punt return TDs in his first three seasons but didn't emerge as a major receiving threat until he left New England to play for the Dolphins and Eagles. (Henry Ellard, Rod Smith and Isaac Curtis stans: this is your shout out). He led the league in receptions once, never in yards or TDs. Published: Apr. I love stat geeks, and on some level I'm one of them, so let's review Moore's qualifications. 2. There are other 70s Bengals who are greater Hall snubs (cough - Ken Anderson, Ken Riley) but Curtis should at least be in this conversation. Pearson caught the pass that gave the play now known as a "Hail Mary" its name. Newest Colts WR Josh Downs is excited to work with WRs coach Reggie 670 receptions, 9,174 yards, 62 TD. Theres another name that should be on here for serious consideration - Isaac Curtis, Bengals 1973-84. Carter just doesn't have the highlight reel those guys do, and he never won a championship. who was recently elected to the Hall of Fame, sits atop the list of when it comes to the highest single-season yardage output, accounting for . During the 1970s, Carmichael ranked 2nd in receptions, tied for 2nd in receiving TDs, and 4th in receiving yardage. That's an average of 9th or 10th. Tittle and Roger Staubach never dreamed of. Who is the best wide receiver eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but not yet enshrined? NFL Draft Day 2: Best defensive players available. Top 25 Best NFL Wide Receivers of All Time The same thing happened to Brown with receiving yardage. But we can certainly compare these players to their peers. Known for his durability, Carter played full 16-game seasons in 13 of his 16 years in the NFL. Harrison is in the Hall of Fame, along with a number of Smith's other receiving peers: Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Isaac Bruce, Tim Brown, Cris Carter and, of course, Jerry Rice. They play in high-efficiency pass-oriented offenses, as opposed to the exciting but reckless bomb-it-down-the-field passing games of the past, when running was a way of life and throwing a sneaky change of pace or a mark of desperation. Harold Carmichael Looking at the 1990s as a whole, Moore had more receptions than Andre Reed, more yardage than Henry Ellard, and more touchdowns than Michael Irvin. Statistically, hes far behind his contemporaries, and thats probably why hes never been taken seriously as a Hall of Fame candidate. Rice had a three-time Super Bowl Champion. But he was an effective player for something like 15 years, and he was an impact performer on special teams. Live From New York: Will AI Replace This Podcast. By 1996, Smith earned a starting role (alongside ex-Browns WR Keenan McCardell) and exploded on the scene with 1,244 yards, as the Jags stunned the NFL with a trip to the AFC Championship Game. The Cowboys now have 20 Hall of Fame members, thanks to three more additions last weekend. If a guy was the best receiver besides Jerry Rice, that's the sort of player I feel is a legitimate snub. Cliff Branch Four-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion who was exceptional in his prime. If you're here for another era, check out our previous articles in this series: Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1990s (Brown, Carter, Fryar, Moore, Rison, Smith) Antonio Brown: Hes clearly a Hall of Famer, but I dont feel like dealing with his whole thing. According to computer vision, Addison has the third-fastest burst (speed achieved in the first 3 yards traveled) of any receiver in this draft class when . He has also been shunted behind Holt and Wayne in the wide receiver queue and Alan Faneca in the ex-Steelers queue. His career-highs after '76 were 59 receptions (1980), and 858 yards and 7 TDs (both '81). The chart above demonstrates the weakness of Moore's HOF case. He was the Megatron of the time and his stats blow away the similar era receivers who are in the HOF. 2. Best players available on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft Both players also have to fight the perception that they were good for a long time without being true standouts. Same era and they too only had three seasons over 1000 yds receiving and Swann never did! When you talk about a player like Irving Fryar, I think there's some truth to the idea that he had a lot of pretty good seasons without necessarily establishing true greatness. Fryar eventually recorded five 1,000-yard seasons, and his accomplishments as a returner are significant, something that should factor into any consideration of his Hall of Fame case. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s. I got struggles. Moore's relatively short prime overlaps precisely with an unprecedented statistical boom for receivers, further exaggerating his already impressive accomplishments. James Jones: Julian Edelman had a very good career, but there's no way he belongs in the Hall of Fame. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1960s Many fans identify the HOF plights of Cliff Branch and Pearson together. The Hall of Fame wideout finished his career as the NFL's all-time leading receiver and was a staple of the Redskins offense for 14 years. 1988-2004, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers From 1990-94, Rison was a truly great player. Three: Chandler, Hill, Morgan, Reed, Rison, Hugh Taylor But those guys had a lot of other really good seasons, too. Ward was a pioneering slot receiver and all-purpose weapon, one of the fiercest blocking receivers in NFL history, a four-time Pro Bowler, and the MVP of Super Bowl XL. He probably shouldn't be in. Monk was repeatedly dismissed as a guy who caught 900 eight-yard hooks, and who wasn't the most dangerous receiver on his own team.
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